A link in the energy chain

Tasmania's potential for generating electricity from wind and water is described. Since natural gas is to be imported from S. Australia to provide additional baseload capacity, there will be a surplus of power available for the rest of Australia and this will be managed by the National Electricity Market (NEM). A diagram shows the generating potential, and the potential for exporting and importing electricity. An issue yet to be addressed by Hydro Tasmania is how to manage the maintenance and upgrading of equipment as it changes from a mixed generating base towards a peaking energy supplier. The article also discusses: (a) the economic edge; (b) Australian energy markets and (c) an opportunity to uprate